Chapter 7
Christina directed Dean down the streets of Baton Rouge and stopped just outside a small brown wood building with a green tinted front window. A small open sign buzzed inside just above several plants hanging upside down on a small rope. Christina climbed up and adjusted her jacket before turning and stopping to look at her brothers. "Okay," she said looking behind her to see if anyone was looking at them from inside. "Just let me do the talking. Christopher is someone I met on my first time here when I was starting out hunting."
"Can you trust this guy?" Dean asked looking like he was on edge as he looked around them on the street.
"He's a bit different in the way he does hunt but he's a really sweet guy. A bit different in attitude as well, but I think you two will get along just well."
"You didn't say you trusted him." Dean pointed out.
"Never said I couldn't either." Christina said before she turned and headed inside the dimly lit building.
The lights from above were looking like they were about to give out when Christina moved to the front desk and gently tapped the small silver bell and turned to look at her brothers. "Dean," she hissed as she spotted her older brother messing with a small rag doll that was laying on the top shelf. "Don't touch!"
Dean looked over at Sam who fought to keep his smile from showing as he pouted and shoved his hands into his jacket.
"Welcome to Baton Rouge Herbs and Gardens." Came a high pitched voice making all three turn. A mocha skinned man stood behind the desk with a wide smile. His hair was wildly standing all over the place but his off white teeth showed professionalism as he smiled at the three. "How can I help you?"
"Thistle and Sage, please." Christina said surprised that he didn't recognize her the minute he came into the room.
"Oh my god! Christina!" Christopher raced around the counter and wrapped Christina in a tight hug making both Sam and Dean take a step towards him. He didn't see them reach for their weapons and Christina raising her hand to stop them. "My god look at you! I see the girls grew in. Damn you're looking like a fine glass of water!"
"More like a shot of Tequila." Christina said with a chuckle. "Oh, these are-"
Christopher had already turned to look at Sam and Dean and a sideways smile gave both of them a slight tingle down their spines. "Speaking of Water. Mm-hmm. I can see two tall ice cold glasses. You're such a lucky woman to have them both."
"They're off limits, Christopher. Meet my brothers Sam and Dean." Christina smiled as she introduced them to Christopher who shook their hands.
"Well, I'm sure there's a valid reason she called you two her brothers." He said trying to detect the family similarities between the three.
"Well, we share the same parents." Christina said quickly before clearing her throat. "You had something you wanted to tell me. And now you can tell all three of us."
"Hunters?" Christopher asked making them nod. "Alright come in the backroom." He lead the three into a small cramped room with the strong scent of peppermint and motioned for them to take a seat. "There's been a lot of crime around here lately and it's making Ma and Granny all worried that I'm all alone here."
"What kind of crimes?" Dean asked making him comfortable by sitting on the edge of a small wooden desk.
"People killing each other but saying they were forced to do it." Christopher said handing out a newspaper and handing it to Sam who was closer. "This was only last night."
Sam read the headline and then handed it to Christina next. He could see the cogs in her head start to turn as she read the headline 'Six dead. Six Suspects. Six places. Cops are worried.'
"Would your Ma and Granny be willing to talk?" Christina asked handing the newspaper to Dean. "Unless you're more comfortable."
"No, Ma and Granny have been wanting to see you again. They might call you Candice so be warned." He said with a shrug. He glanced up at Dean who was reaching for a strange looking bottle before clearing his throat and stopping him. "Ma and Granny are going to have fun with him." He said making Christina smile and shake her head. As she turned to leave the room after her brothers Christopher gently grabbed her hand. "I was thinking, if you are going to stick around for a few days, maybe we can try and go on that date we said we would but never did the last time you were in town."
Christina felt her cheeks burn as she gently looked up at him. Despite him being three years older she always thought his attitude was a bit more childish then she could handle. But he had a slight charm that made her stomach flip. "Uh...let me think about it." She said not knowing what she wanted to do. But she knew that if she said yes, Dean would most likely try and change her mind.
"Are we going or socializing?" Dean yelled breaking Christina's gaze on Christopher.
"Got to go." Christina said walking past Christopher and headed for the Impala. She felt someone gently pinching her shoulder but shrugged it off as she climbed inside the back seat.
~DSCWIN~
"So this place we're heading now," Dean said breaking the awkward silence the car took once he drive out of the city limits.
"Tia and Mama Oakley. Two Voodoo priestesses." Christina said matter of fact as she fussed with brushing her hair with her fingers. "You think Missouri is scary when she reads your actions before they happen, these two are more advanced."
"Why are we going to see Voodoo priestesses?" Sam inquired watching her work putting her hair back in her ponytail.
"They're more active practitioners. I also have a feeling we might be dealing with Voodoo." She said absently looking out the windows watching the different buildings moving past.
"Not who we're seeing," Dean grumbled stopping at a red light heading back to the hotel. "Where are we going?"
"Oh, sorry." Christina said letting out a nervous chuckle. "New Orleans. Head to the French Quarter. We'll need to walk to find their shop."
Dean nodded and turned on some music letting the soothing, or not so soothing, heavy metal bounce off the windows surrounding the three much to Sam's displeasure.
~DSCWIN~
New Orleans was busy as usual as tourists and Locals moved about visiting shops as Dean found a safe place to store his car. He was still rather nervous as he pocketed his keys into his jacket and silently prayed for his car to be spared from foul play or tampering.
"So where now?" Sam asked rolling his eyes at how Dean glared at anyone walking near.
"This way." Christina said taking a second to look around so she knew where to go.
The three walked half a block before turning down a surprisingly well kept alleyway. They found a single door tucked away in a corner. She swallowed before turning and facing her brothers.
"Keep all negative thoughts out of your head." she said mostly towards Dean as Sam was more open minded about things. "And don't touch anything please." Taking in a deep breath walked to the door and before her knuckles made contact the door swung open and a powerful array of incense and smoke escaped and enveloped the three.
"Come in, Candice." A soothing motherly voice made Christina turn and look at her brothers and step through the door. "You as well, you two." Sam and Dean looked at each other before following their sister inside the building. The door noiselessly closed behind them.
The dim light was obscured by the smoke and the incense seemed to make them all dizzy. They all seemed to trip as steps, leading towards a basement level, surprised them. They took an easier breath as it seemed cleared from the smoke and incense that was tickling the back of their throats.
"Hello?" Christina called seeing nobody was in the room at the bottom of the stairs.
"Hey look," Dean said pointing to the same rag doll on a shelf. "Looks like the one at the other-"
"Do not touch that." Came a stern voice from behind Dean. Involuntarily Dean stiffened as if standing at attention. "I believe Candice told you not to touch anything. You ought to listen more."
"It's actually Christina." Christina said softly already ready for her to get in the spotlight of Tia's wrath.
Tia, a five foot one frail looking woman with the same wild hair style as Christopher, slowly turned and looked at Christina with dark brown eyes. But it wasn't out of anger as she lifted a milk chocolate hand and smiled taking a step closer to her. She gently cupped Christina's cheek and looked deep inside her hazel eyes. "Pa favè zansèt mwen yo..." The woman smiled and looked at the two men that stood confused and looked at each other. "I should have known once you stepped inside the store. Look at the similarities. I bet you were the gem of your mother's eye."
"I actually never met her." Christina said. "Well not while I was...nevermind. Christopher is having a bit of a problem with..."
"The attacks." Tia nodding. "Yes, you're in the right place." She turned and left the room giving Dean a stern look as if daring him to touch things once again.
Instead of touching the doll Dean just slid his hands into his jacket and found a seat that was placed against the wall. He looked around before heading towards the chair.
"Ti gason gen sab pou sèvo. Pa gen manyè. Yon sèl nan lòt sanble gen plis Sur pratik nou yo. Ou di fi sa se sè yo?" An older woman's spoke her voice shaky with age.
"Wi, Mama. Yo isit la pou la..." Tia answered softly.
"Atak. Wi." The older woman looked frail as she clung on Tia's arm as she shuffled across the floor only to glance up at Dean who upon looking up quickly stood up and moved away from the chair which the older woman sat down. White cloudy eyes matched her silver hair draped over pale brown skin. "You three are here for the Attacks that are happening near my Grandson, are you not?"
"Uh," Dean said unsure if he was allowed to speak.
"We are Mama Oakley." Christina said quickly yet respectively. "I'm here with-"
"Your family. Family of hunters with a dark past as my days as a child." Mama Oakley said smiling and patting Tia's hand letting her walk away to start gathering supplies. "I want you to know, young man," Mama Oakley said turning her head towards Dean. "Your worry is not needed."
"I...uh..." Dean started again.
"I'm sorry, my brother can be at a loss for words which is unusual." Sam said finally stepping in. "What can you tell us about-"
"The attacks. Yes." Mama Oakley nodded and leaned back in the seat. "My yon bèl ti flè is going to start making a mixture that would help determine if this was indeed Voodoo." Mama Oakley smiled and moved her head turning to face each of the Winchesters.
"What will-" Dean started finally finding his voice again.
"You would need to collect blood samples from the attackers. If it was indeed Voodoo the mixture will tell us." Mama Oakley said making Dean feel a cold chill run down his spine. "There's also an important herb that grows inside my family's mausoleum that's back in Baton Rouge."
Dean opened his mouth to speak of his unwilling to go back and forth between the two cities when Mama Oakley slowly stood up and shuffled towards him. Her cloudy eyes staring straight into his green ones. He felt his body tremble as she gripped his shoulder and began to mumble something incoherent. After she spoke Dean nodded and headed towards the stairs with Sam following closely behind.
Mama Oakley gently grabbed Christina's arm and stopped her from following. "Bring me back two small sticks with exactly six leaves on each. Bring them back and put them in this cloth." She reached inside her small sweater pocket and pulled out a purple satin cloth and gently placed it in Christina's hands. "Go to the mausoleum at eleven thirty tonight and bring them back her before two. That is when we would preform to see if this is indeed Voodoo. Pran swen tèt ou jenn."
"I will be careful." Christina said even though she did not know what Mama Oakley had said. "I will be back tomorrow morning." She smiled and gently kissed the older woman's cheek who smiled and nodded.
"Also go out with my grandson." Mama Oakley said weakly. "He truly cares for you. Your sèvo sab older brother will not stop you."
"I was actually wanting to go out with him. Five years changes some people." Christina said with a soft blush and a smile.
"Yes it does." Mama Oakley smiled and reached back into her sweater pocket. She pulled out a small pin of a dove and set it on top of the cloth. "Wear this tonight. It would protect you on your date tonight."
"Thank you, Mama Oakley." Christina said quickly running up the stairs after her brothers. The incense and smoke from earlier didn't seem to bother her as she walked out of the door. She rounded the corner to find Sam and Dean already inside the car waiting for her.
Translations:
"Pa favè zansèt mwen yo..."- "By the grace of my ancenstors..."
"Ti gason gen sab pou sèvo. Pa gen manyè. Yon sèl nan lòt sanble gen plis Sur pratik nou yo. Ou di fi sa se sè yo?"- "Boy has sand for brains. No manners. The other one seems to have more insights to our practice. You say this girl is their sister?"
"Wi, Mama. Yo isit la pou la..."- "Yes, Mama. They are here for the..."
"Atak. Wi." -"Attacks. Yes."
"yon bèl ti flè" - "water lily"
"Pran swen tèt ou jenn."-"Take care of yourself young one."
"sèvo sab" - "sand brained"